Legislation and Regulation
There are a number of sources which consolidate and summarise information on regulations and legislation related to stem cell research. Not all of the sources agree with each other, as the degree to which a country is supportive (or not) of stem cell research can be somewhat of a value judgment.
The most comprehensive, up-to-date, and scholarly source of information is StemGen which is maintained by the Ethics working group of the International Stem Cell Forum and is supported by grants from the ISCF and the Canadian SCN. The unique feature of StemGen are its links to the actual underlying laws, poliocies, regulations and guidelines in more than 50 countires as well as regional and international organizations. StemGen is an invaluable source for policymakers and researchers.
The Stem Cells World Map is aimed more at the media and general public, and while lacking the detail of StemGen, contains many links to commentaries as well as academic journals.
ISSCR also periodically updates a summary table of legislation/regulation in six key areas.
The problems of the patchwork stem cell regulation amongst various states in the US was covered in a recent article in Nature Reports Stem Cells published online on November 1, 2007. What Color is Your State? Published periodically by thestemcellblog.com is a color-coded ranking of American states and their legislative positions on embryonic stem cell research. More current infomration can be obtained from the Interstate Alliance for Stem Cell Research (IASCR), a voluntary body whose mission is to advance stem cell research (human embryonic, adult, and other) by fostering effective interstate collaboration, by assisting states in developing research programs, and by promoting efficient and responsible use of public funds.